Boss Paul Warne delivers fitness verdict on Ollie Rathbone as Rotherham United gear up for Ipswich Town test

Ollie RathboneOllie Rathbone
Ollie Rathbone
KEY man Rathbone could return to the Rotherham United squad for tomorrow's trip to Ipswich Town as his condition improves after illness.

The midfielder had to sit out Saturday's 3-1 win over Cambridge United that saw the Millers climb to second place in League One.

But manager Paul Warne confirmed this afternoon that the 25-year-old, who has been superb since his August switch from Rochdale, is fit enough again for first-team consideration.

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"He's an option for us to travel tomorrow," the boss said. "I still haven't made a call on it. I'm going to see how he is today. We haven't trained yet.

"Obviously, if I can take him and use him I will. As I speak to you now, I don't honestly know yet if he will be in the squad, but I'd like to think he will play a part."

Ipswich, improving rapidly after a stuttering start following new boss Paul Cook's summer rebuild, represent one of Rotherham's toughest challenges of the season.

The Millers have top scorer Michael Smith back after a one-match ban and fellow striker Will Grigg will travel after an injury scare.

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"Griggy had a little bit of a sore foot after Cambridge," Warne said. "He had a scan on that and it's come back negative.

"There are no issues. It was just about ruling out a fracture. There is no fracture and he hasn't got severe pain today. We should have virtually every pro available."

Ipswich in tenth spot but are the division's top scorers and, before an unlucky defeat at Sunderland at the weekend, had lost only once in 11 games.

Warne, whose own team are now unbeaten in 14 outings, said: "I've always liked Cooky and the way his teams play. He's nearly always 4-2-3-1.

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"He had a bit of a sticky start. A new team took time to gel. I think they are gelling now and I wish I'd played them a few weeks ago. I'm expecting a really hard game. They create chances and keep the ball really well.

"It's a game we want to go and try to win so we'll pick an aggressive side. I still think that if you finish above Ipswich you will take one of the automatic spots."

Rotherham were training this afternoon before a coach journey to East Anglia for an overnight stay.

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